Puzzle.



L. ROTHE PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED 00115, 1915.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

INVENTOR WITNESSES Y E N R o T T A LEE ROTHE, OF LINNEUS, MISSOURI.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Feb. 1, 1916.

Application filed October 15, 1915.. Serial No. 56,068.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LEE RorHE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Linneus, in the county of Linn and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved puzzle and the principal object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which is so constructed that it will be diflicult to remove a small key from a relatively large one, the small key and line being placed upon the large key in such a manner that the small key cannot be removed unless certain steps are taken.

Another object of the invention is to provide a puzzle of the character described which can be very cheaply produced, one of the keys being formed of stamped sheet metal and the second key and loop being formed of twisted wire.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this puzzle that the solution of the same will be very simple when it is once figured out.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a perspective view of the puzzle.

The large key 10 which is formed of twisted wire is provided with a head 11 at one end and with an eye 12 at the opposite end. The small key 13 which is formed of sheet metal is placed upon the large key 10 by passing the eye 12 through the key hole opening 11 of the small key. After the key 13 is in place the link 15 will be connected with the eye 12 by passing the eye 16 of the link through the eye 12. This link 15 is formed of wire, one end portion of which is bent to provide the eye 16 and the opposite end portion of which is bent to provide the eye 17 which eye is larger than the eye 16 and therefore will not pass through the eye 12. The line 18 after being passed around the arms 19 of the eyes 16 and 17 is passed through loop 20 and is then tied into the opening 21 of key 13. It should be noted that this loop 20 is of such size that the link 15, eye 12 and head 11 may all pass through the loop. This is necessary in order to properly work the puzzle.

When the puzzle is assembled as shown the line 18 must be disconnected from the link 15 without forcing the line from the arms 19 after which the link will be removed and then the small key can be removed from the large key. It is preferred to have the arms 1%)- soldered to the intermediate portion of the wire from which the link is formed so that it will be impossible to remove the line from the link without taking the proper steps.

When working this puzzle the loop 20 is drawn along the line 18 toward the link 15 and is then slipped over the link so that it will extend through the eyes of the link and engage the key 10 intermediate the eye 12 and small key 13. The loop will then be drawn through the opening let of the key 13 and the head 0] handle 11 of the large key slipped through the loop. The loop will now be drawn back through the eye of the small key and can then be easily drawn through. the two eyes of the link, thus disconnecting the line from the link. The small eye 16 of the link can now be drawn through eye 12 of the large key and the eye 12 can then be drawn through the opening 14: of the small key. When reassembling this puzzle the key 13 will be first put in place, the link then again connected with eye 12 by passing eye 16 through the eye 12 and the line will then be passed through the eyes 16 and 17 after which the loop will be passed through opening 14 over handle 11 and drawn along the key 10 over eye 12 and around the link. The puzzle will now again be in its original condition shown in the drawing.

What is claimed is 1. A puzzle comprising a relatively large key formed from a strip of wire having one end portion bent to form a handle and having the opposite end portion bent to form an eye, a relatively small key provided with an opening through which said large key passes, the opening being of suflicient size to permit the eye of the large key to pass through the same, a line having one end portion connected with said small key, and a wire link provided with eyes, the eye of said large key engaging said link intermediate the eyes thereof and said line having its free end portion passed through the eyes of said link and provided with a loop engaging the line intermediate the link and small key.

2. A puzzle comprising a relatively large key, a relatively small key slidably mounted upon said relatively large key and removable therefrom, a link removably connected with said relatively large key, and a line connected with said relatively small key and passing through said link and having its free end portion provided with a loop engaging the line between said relatively small key and said link.

3. A puzzle comprising a main member, an auxiliary member slidably and removably mounted upon said main member, a flexible element connected with said auxiliary member and having its free end portion provided with a loop, and a link removably connected with one end portion of said main member, the looped end of said flexible element being passed through said link and having its loop engaging the flexible element intermediate the auxiliary member and link.

4. A puzzle comprising a relatively large key having an eye at one end and a handle of the link being of suflicient size to pass through the eye of the large key, and a line connected with the relatively small key and having its free end portion passing through the eyes of said link and provided with a loop engaging the line intermediate the link and small key, the loop being of sufiicient size to permit the link and the handle of the large key to pass through the same.

5. A puzzle comprising a main member having an eye at one end and a handle at the other, an auxiliary member slidably mounted upon said main member between the eye and handle thereof, a link carried by the eye of said main member and provided with eyes positioned upon opposite sides of the eye of the main member, and a line connected with said auxiliary member and having its free end portions passing through the eyes of said link and provided with a loop engaging the line intermediate the link and auxiliary member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEE ROTHE.

Witnesses:

MILES HUTCHINSON, Jr, W. N. CAsSITY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C. i 

